Upgrading from a Shared Hosting package to a Virtual Private Server (VPS) comes with a host of advantages, but there are pitfalls. If you do not take the right call, you may face trouble later.
Keep the following three things in mind while selecting the right Virtual Server Hosting for your website (s).
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Know what you want
Understand your requirements first. Secondly, the Virtual Server Hosting provider you have shortlisted should be able to meet those needs. The most critical requirements that can impact your website’s performance are as follows:
RAM: Web pages and data get cached in RAM. Find out if the Virtual Server Hosting offers sufficient (or more) memory for your website to operate. Opt for fast RAM technologies like DDR3 and DDR4 SDRAM.
Storage Space: If you want to host large-sized files, choose a plan that provides sufficient storage space. If high speed is your priority, then opt for SSD-based drives. Know the volume and type of storage offered by a host to critically evaluate their storage capabilities.
CPU: The need for processing strength depends on how much traffic your site draws. If your site gets a lot of database requests, you definitely need higher processing power. The VPS should have required number of cores and processing prowess to cater to the dynamic nature of your site.
Consider, for example, you are not an advanced user. Then your choice of host should be driven by ease-of-use and intuitive control panel. If your Virtual Server Hosting is managed, then go for the control panel user interface (UI). Consider you are not a novice. Experience will teach you to avoid a Virtual Server Hosting plan with a heavy and slow UI. Managing your account becomes much easier and streamlined by choosing the right host. Several website owners pay scant attention to this factor, but they suffer when it comes to managing their account.
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Evaluate the Hosting Service
First know your needs, then look for VPS hosts that can meet your needs. Critically evaluate as many providers as you can to know if they meet your criteria. Judge them on the basis of following points:
Uptime Guarantee: The Virtual Server Hosting provider should guarantee an uptime of not less than 99.9%. Reliability is one of the most important factor differentiating VPS hosting from shared hosting.
Claim to fame: Testimonials of other clients play an important role in deciding the right web host and choosing a plan of your choice and liking. Check genuine customer reviews to know the host’s reputation. Make sure the review comes from users who are not only real but have needs that match yours. Pay utmost attention to see if the host’s plans actually helped those clients. Look for genuine reviews from real users who are similar to you and find out if the host’s VPS plans helped address their needs and meet their expectations.
Customer Care: Opt for a web host that provides quality and in-time support. Again, client reviews come in handy in making up your mind on quality of service offered. The ideal Virtual Server Hosting is the one that has short turnaround time and offers 24/7 technical support through live chat. When it comes to customer support, it does not really make much difference whether you choose a managed or unmanaged Virtual Server Hosting plan. The provider should give round the clock service and have an unblemished record in customer service.
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What should I opt for: Managed or Unmanaged VPS?
In case you do not have prior experience in managing a server, you should go for a managed server. Choose a fully-managed VPS service if you don’t have experienced professionals on your team. Managing a server is no child’s play. It needs configuring and taking care of everything – from performance to security. The decision to choose a managed or unmanaged Virtual Server Hosting purely depends on your past experience and expertise in this domain. A company with the required technical expertise can opt for unmanaged or self-managed VPS service. You will definitely save a lot of money, besides having a better control on your system.
Take into consideration all the factors mentioned above before choosing the most opt Virtual Server Hosting provider and plan for you. While resource requirement is vital, the host company’s reputation is critical before you jump onto any conclusion.
